The Murder of Harry and Nicola Fuller: A Case of Lies, Money, and Justice

Harry and Nicola Fuller seemed to have it all—love, a stable life, and a promising future. Harry, 45, was a successful car dealer, known for his larger-than-life personality and charm. His wife, Nicola, was much younger at 27, and though shy and private, was deeply loved by her friends and family. The two were married just six months before tragedy struck, turning their seemingly perfect life upside down.

Nicola’s family adored Harry. He was the kind of man who went out of his way to show affection, often showering Nicola with small gifts and flowers. While Nicola was reserved, Harry’s outgoing nature seemed to draw her out of her shell. Their differences only brought them closer, and their love was apparent to everyone around them.

But behind Harry’s charismatic exterior, not everything was as it seemed. Though he was liked by many, some knew him as a man who wasn’t always truthful, especially in his dealings as a car salesman. He was known to exaggerate, especially about money, and always seemed to have large amounts of cash on hand. Still, to Nicola and her family, he was nothing short of a hero.

The Fullers lived in a rented cottage in Wadhurst, a quiet market town in East Sussex, England. It was the perfect setting for a happy life, but that all changed on the morning of February 10, 1993.

The Day of the Crime

On the night of February 9, Nicola was preparing to meet friends. She and Harry planned to reunite at a restaurant later in the evening, where he would pick her up. That night, Harry received an unusual phone call at home. The caller, who identified himself only as "Steve," arranged a meeting with Harry for early the next morning. This was out of character for Harry, who was known to sleep in late.

Early the next morning, a mail carrier passing by the Fullers' home noticed a car speeding away from the property, cutting him off in a rush. Around 8:30 a.m., Harry was spotted on camera at a local shop, buying cigarettes. Not long after, both Harry and Nicola were brutally murdered in their home.

Nicola’s mother tried calling the house around 9 a.m. after not hearing from her daughter. She rang repeatedly for half an hour, but no one answered. Little did she know, by that time, both Harry and Nicola were already dead.

The Horrifying Discovery

Later that evening, when Nicola didn’t show up for work, her concerned parents contacted the police. Together, they went to the couple’s home, where police found a dark and silent house. Inside, they made a grim discovery: both Harry and Nicola had been shot.

Harry’s body was found downstairs in the utility room, while Nicola was found upstairs in the bedroom. She had been shot four times, and based on the evidence, it appeared that she had been trying to escape, possibly from the stairs to the bedroom. Police also found a 999 call, England's emergency line, had been made by Nicola. The call lasted six minutes, capturing her screams and the sound of gunshots, but tragically, the police never responded. The operator had dismissed the call as a hoax.

A neighbor later reported hearing gunshots around 9 a.m. but hadn’t realized what they were until after the murders were discovered. The case immediately baffled police, as there were no signs of forced entry, and it seemed clear that the Fullers knew their killer.

A Mysterious Caller Named Steve

The investigation took an interesting turn when police found that Harry had recorded all of his phone calls. On the tape from the night before the murders, the man identified as "Steve" arranged to meet Harry early the next morning. The police released the recording, hoping to identify the mysterious caller, but no one came forward immediately.

As the investigation progressed, a man named Steve Young contacted the police, admitting that the voice on the tape was his. He explained that he had business dealings with Harry and that he had gone to meet him on the morning of the murders. According to Young, no one answered the door, and he left. But his story didn’t seem to add up.

Young owned multiple firearms and was a member of a gun club. When police searched his home, they found equipment used to reload bullets. The markings on the bullets found at the crime scene matched the ones produced by his equipment. Additionally, security footage revealed that Steve’s car had been in the area at a different time than he claimed.

To make matters worse, just a day after the murders, Steve deposited a suspiciously large sum of money into his bank account—money that investigators believed had been stolen from Harry, who was known to carry large amounts of cash. Steve, who had been struggling financially, claimed the money was from savings, but police suspected otherwise.

The Trial and Shocking Twist

With mounting evidence, including the bullet markings, financial discrepancies, and Steve’s inconsistent statements, police arrested him for the murders of Harry and Nicola Fuller. At trial, prosecutors argued that the meeting with Harry had been a setup for a robbery, during which Steve shot both Harry and Nicola.

But the case took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that members of the jury had used an Ouija board during the trial to "contact" Harry and Nicola. While the jurors claimed the Ouija board didn’t influence their decision, the revelation led to an appeal, and Steve Young was granted a new trial.

Despite the bizarre twist, Steve was found guilty again at his second trial. The evidence was overwhelming, and he was sentenced to life in prison for the double homicide of Harry and Nicola Fuller.

Conclusion

The murders of Harry and Nicola Fuller shocked their community and left their families devastated. What appeared to be a senseless crime rooted in greed and betrayal ended in justice for the couple, but only after a long and winding investigation. Steve Young, a trusted business associate, turned out to be the killer, motivated by financial desperation and lies. Though justice was eventually served, the tragic loss of Harry and Nicola remains a painful memory for those who knew and loved them.